Co-founder of Clique
I'm a Partner at Clique, a Chicago digital agency I co-founded with Ted Novak back when I was 19.
We design, build and market in the industries where we feel we can make a big impact: education, healthcare, startups, eCommerce, and non-profits.
Our team of about 30 folks is based in the historic Fine Arts Building on Michigan Avenue. We've grown for 10 straight years and won hardware along the way, including taking home Gold at the American Business Awards (San Francisco, 2014), being honored at the Webbys (2015), and being named one of Chicago's "Best and Brightest Companies to Work For" (2015).
Design
I got started designing and developing when I was 12. I teach "Designing for Conversion" at the Startup Institute, am a Mentor at General Assembly, and occasionally write and speak on mobile conversion, currently for Smashing Magazine (recently published in the eBook How To Create Selling E-Commerce Websites).
Music
I record and play around Chicago as a solo act and with a 7-piece band named Martin Van Ruin. Made the list of “5 Chicago Songwriters You Need to Hear” (American Songwriter Magazine, 2014) and released "one of the best local albums of the year" (Chicago Tribune, 2014). Blah blah. Martin Van Ruin taped some live videos at Thalia Hall here.
Other stuff
I’m a staff veteran of the 2008 Obama campaign (as a Field Organizer) and graduated with honors from the Missouri School of Journalism. I’m on the Young Leaders Board for Cure Violence, a cause I care a lot about. I live in Bucktown with my lovely wife and our dog, Charles Barkley. I'm 29.
Albums:
Martin Van Ruin - Every Man a King (2014)
Derek Nelson - Missouri (2014)
Derek Nelson & The Musicians - Riders of the Tide (2010)
Derek Nelson - Something Obscure (2009)
Links:
Travel photos on Flickr
Other photos on Instagram
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